Diaphragm



E. J. MAKI Oct. 29, 1957 DIAPHRAGM Filed March 25, 1954 W WA MM T 0 W E 'ATTORNEY United States Patent DIAPHRAGM Eino I. Maki, Scotch Plains, N. J., assignor to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 25, 1954, Serial No. 418,511

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-127) This invention relates to diaphragms in general and particularly to those commonly known as pessaries." The principal object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved diaphragm of the class described which is safer to the user, less expensive to manufacture,

and easier to use than those of the prior art.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a diaphragm of the class described which comprises in general a relatively thick, generally circular or oval peripheral ring or rim which has molded therein a continuous fiat ring-like spring made of nylon, this plastic spring conforming in outline to the shape of the rim, the diaphragm also including a flexible resilient waterproof web or diaphragm proper which is secured to or integral with the thickened circular peripheral ring above described, and the principal advantages of this construction are that the nylon provides a material which is suificiently resilient and springy for the general purposes of the usual steel spring found in diaphragms and at the same time the nylon spring is not liable to fracture or shatter and cannot therefore work through the diaphragm material to the injury of the user as is possible with steel springs of the prior art, also steel springs being hardened, are thus liable to shatter. Further, the nylon is a material which easily withstands the heat in the diaphragm molding process as would not be possible with other plastics.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a diaphragm according to the invention;-

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a molded nylon spring forming part of this invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates an extruded nylon spring element;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the extruded nylon element in Fig. 5 turned into the form of the spring of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 shows an alternative form of fastening for the extruded nylon stock to make an equivalent nylon spring.

The improved diaphragm constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the spring element forming an integral part thereof, being illustrated in Fig. 4, and in its condition as prepared for positioning in the mold. The diaphragm, which term may be used to indicate the entire construction which includes the diaphragm proper, comprises a relatively thick circular oval peripheral ring or rim 10 from one side of which extends a thin flexible wall or diaphragm proper 12, preferably formed integrally therewith, as in molding. The material is preferably extremely flexible, resilient, waterproof and impervious to 'air and water. Rubber, both synthetic and natural, is suitable.

(0 Embedded within the rim 11 is a flat spring illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6. In the melding of the unit, the spring ice 13 is first positioned in the die and the flexible material of the rim 10 formed therearound so that it is completely embedded and protected on all sides.

The nylon spring preferably conforms in shape to the rim of the diaphragm to be made, and it may be injection molded as in Fig. 4, or extruded as in Fig. 5 and bent and joined at its ends 18 as by crimping, heat-sealing or cementing. The ends 18 may be cut at right angles or on the bias for forming especially a butt or a scarf joint. In any event, the result is substantially the same in the finished product.

There may be provided a soft plastic binder 20 about the joined ends 18, see Fig. 7, or this may be a more rigid plastic clip, or it may even be made of metal, but the thick rim 10 having the spring 14 completely molded therein tends to act to hold the ends in abutting relation even without the clip 20.

The fiat nylon spring is cylindrical in shape and relatively speaking it stands on edge and presents flat sides to resist inward radial pressures on the rim. Thus the rim will be firmly held and seated, and will always return to shape after being distorted for insertion, yet the device is very yieldable and comfortable in use.

During the molding of the diaphragm, considerable heat is present, the material of the diaphragm being liquid or substantially so during the molding, and it has been discovered that nylon is a synthetic material having the qualities desired to be present for a spring in a diaphragm of the nature described, and at the same time is not affected by the heat required in the manufacture of the device. The new diaphragm is used exactly in the same manner as the diaphragms of the prior art.

At the same time, the nylon spring provides against the difficulties found in the prior art steel spring which may fracture or shatter and work through the material of the diaphragm to injure the patient or user; or in case of breakage, the broken ends of the spring will tend to work through and will cause injury to the user in this case also.

In addition, the manufacture of the present diaphragm is much less expensive than any heretofore presented which contains springs in the rims thereof and the present invention provides a superior product at a reduced cost.

While the particular constructions herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of COHSU'HC'. tion or design herein shown except as defined in the appended claim.

-I claim:

A diaphragm comprising a cup-shaped body formed of a rubbery material and including an annular circumferential thickened rim and a thin flexible diaphragm portion connected thereto, said diaphragm portion extending completely across the area within the rim, and a continuous nylon spring in the form of a flat ring wholly embedded in said rim and extending about said diaphragm in said rim, said flat nylon spring being cylindrical in form and relatively standing on edge to present the flat sides thereof to resist inward radial pressures on the rim.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,478 Snell Ian. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 582,987 Great Britain Dec. 4, 1946 800,044 France Apr. 20, 1936 

